Ioe device transmission signaling and scheduling

ABSTRACT

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a first node. The first node determines a data frame based on synchronization information. The data frame has a signaling block and a plurality of data slots. The signaling block is prior to the plurality of data slots. The first node communicates with a second node in the signaling block to reserve a first data slot of the plurality of data slots during which to transmit or to receive a first packet. The first node transmits the first packet to the second node or receives the first packet from the second node during the first data slot.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore particularly, to techniques of transmission signaling andscheduling of internet-of-everything (IoE) devices in wireless IoEnetworks.

2. Background

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

In a wireless IoE network, typically, most IoE devices will be in apower-saving mode (i.e., the sleep mode) most of the time to conservepower. When an IoE device sleeps, the IoE device operates in apower-saving mode. Particularly, the transmitter and the receiver of theIoE device may be disabled (e.g., turned off) and may not be able totransmit or receive signals. In order to communicate, however, atransmitting IoE device can only transmit when the receiving IoE deviceis awake. When an IoE device is awake, the IoE device operates in anormal operation mode. Particularly, the transmitter and the receiver ofthe IoE device may be enabled (e.g., turned on) and may be able totransmit or receive signals.

This necessitates a mechanism for scheduling and signaling awake periodsamong IoE devices such that the IoE devices can discover and communicatewith each other. Furthermore, in a multi-hop wireless IoE network, theawake scheduling of different devices on a route requires coordinationin order to achieve low end-to-end latency.

The IoE devices in a wireless IoE network may have a traffic thatrequires best-effort, that is bursty and requires lower-latency, and/orthat is periodic with widely-varying cycles. The IoE devices may havelimited power, which necessitates that the IoE devices operate in apower-saving mode as often as possible.

Thus, there is a need for a mechanism for arranging transmissionsignaling and scheduling that allows the IoE devices to sleep most ofthe time when they are not directly transmitting or receiving and, atthe same time, that facilitates achieving the desired latency fordifferent types of traffic.

Further, there is a need for a mechanism that allows the IoE devices ina wireless IoE network to prioritize transmissions/receptions ofmessages among the IoE devices such that a particular IoE device cansleep most of the time when not directly transmitting and can access theshared medium with priority and continue to reserve a slot in each framefor a duration to meet the latency constraints and/or the desiredperiodicity of the traffic of the particular IoE device.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer program product,and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a first node. Thefirst node determines a data frame based on synchronization information.The data frame has a signaling block and a plurality of data slots. Thesignaling block is prior to the plurality of data slots. The first nodecommunicates with a second node in the signaling block to reserve afirst data slot of the plurality of data slots during which to transmitor to receive a first packet. The first node transmits the first packetto the second node or receives the first packet from the second nodeduring the first data slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device-to-device communications system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating IoE devices in wireless IoE networks.

FIG. 3(A) is a diagram illustrating resource allocation among wirelessIoE networks.

FIG. 3(B) illustrates a frame structure used in a wireless IoE network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating frames of a wireless IoE network.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating communication scheduling among IoEdevices of a wireless IoE network.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating distributed and coordinated schedulingamong IoE devices of a wireless IoE network.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating tree structures in a wireless IoEnetwork.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating resource allocation in a wireless IoEnetwork.

FIG. 9 is another diagram illustrating resource allocation in a wirelessIoE network.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a method of wireless communication.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of another method of wireless communication.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of yet another method of wireless communication.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flowbetween different modules/means/components in an exemplary apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus employing a processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Various aspects of the novel systems, apparatuses, computer programproducts, and methods are described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto any specific structure or function presented throughout thisdisclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosurewill be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of thedisclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings hereinone skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of thedisclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the novel systems,apparatuses, computer program products, and methods disclosed herein,whether implemented independently of, or combined with, any other aspectof the invention. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or amethod may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forthherein. In addition, the scope of the invention is intended to coversuch an apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure,functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or otherthan the various aspects of the invention set forth herein. It should beunderstood that any aspect disclosed herein may be embodied by one ormore elements of a claim.

Although particular aspects are described herein, many variations andpermutations of these aspects fall within the scope of the disclosure.Although some benefits and advantages of the preferred aspects arementioned, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited toparticular benefits, uses, or objectives. Rather, aspects of thedisclosure are intended to be broadly applicable to different wirelesstechnologies, system configurations, networks, and transmissionprotocols, some of which are illustrated by way of example in thefigures and in the following description of the preferred aspects. Thedetailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of thedisclosure rather than limiting, the scope of the disclosure beingdefined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof

Popular wireless network technologies may include various types ofwireless local area networks (WLANs). A WLAN may be used to interconnectnearby devices together, employing widely used networking protocols. Thevarious aspects described herein may apply to any communicationstandard, such as a wireless protocol.

In some aspects, wireless signals may be transmitted according to anInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocolusing orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), direct sequencespread spectrum (DSSS) communications, a combination of OFDM and DSSScommunications, or other schemes. Implementations of the IEEE 802.11protocol may be used for sensors, metering, and smart grid networks.Advantageously, aspects of certain devices implementing the IEEE 802.11protocol may consume less power than devices implementing other wirelessprotocols, and/or may be used to transmit wireless signals across arelatively long range, for example about one kilometer or longer.

In some implementations, a WLAN includes various devices which are thecomponents that access the wireless network. For example, there may betwo types of devices: access points (APs) and clients (also referred toas stations or “STAs”). In general, an AP may serve as a hub or basestation for the WLAN and a STA serves as a user of the WLAN. Forexample, a STA may be a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile phone, etc. In an example, a STA connects to an AP via aWiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocol) compliant wireless link to obtaingeneral connectivity to the Internet or to other wide area networks. Insome implementations a STA may also be used as an AP.

A station may also comprise, be implemented as, or known as an accessterminal (AT), a subscriber station, a subscriber unit, a mobilestation, a remote station, a remote terminal, a user terminal, a useragent, a user device, a user equipment, or some other terminology. Insome implementations an access terminal may comprise a cellulartelephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a handheld device having wireless connection capability, or someother suitable processing device connected to a wireless modem.Accordingly, one or more aspects taught herein may be incorporated intoa phone (e.g., a cellular phone or smartphone), a computer (e.g., alaptop), a portable communication device, a headset, a portablecomputing device (e.g., a personal data assistant), an entertainmentdevice (e.g., a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a gamingdevice or system, a global positioning system device, or any othersuitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless medium.

The term “associate,” or “association,” or any variant thereof should begiven the broadest meaning possible within the context of the presentdisclosure. By way of example, when a first apparatus associates with asecond apparatus, it should be understood that the two apparatus may bedirectly associated or intermediate apparatuses may be present. Forpurposes of brevity, the process for establishing an association betweentwo apparatuses will be described using a handshake protocol thatrequires an “association request” by one of the apparatus followed by an“association response” by the other apparatus. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art the handshake protocol may require othersignaling, such as by way of example, signaling to provideauthentication.

Any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,”“second,” and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order ofthose elements. Rather, these designations are used herein as aconvenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements orinstances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elementsdoes not mean that only two elements can be employed, or that the firstelement must precede the second element. In addition, a phrase referringto “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of thoseitems, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: A, B,or C” is intended to cover: A, or B, or C, or any combination thereof(e.g., A-B, A-C, B-C, and A-B-C).

As discussed supra, certain devices described herein may implement theIEEE 802.11 standard, for example. Such devices, whether used as a STAor AP or other device, may be used for smart metering or in a smart gridnetwork. Such devices may provide sensor applications or be used in homeautomation. The devices may instead or in addition be used in ahealthcare context, for example for personal healthcare. They may alsobe used for surveillance, to enable extended-range Internet connectivity(e.g. for use with hotspots), or to implement machine-to-machinecommunications.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device-to-device communications system 100. Thedevice-to-device communications system 100 includes a plurality ofwireless devices 104, 106, 108, 110. The device-to-device communicationssystem 100 may overlap with a cellular communications system, such asfor example, a wireless wide area network (WWAN). Some of the wirelessdevices 104, 106, 108, 110 may communicate together in device-to-devicecommunication using the DL/UL WWAN spectrum, some may communicate withthe base station 102, and some may do both. For example, as shown inFIG. 1, the wireless devices 108, 110 are in device-to-devicecommunication and the wireless devices 104, 106 are in device-to-devicecommunication. The wireless devices 104, 106 are also communicating withthe base station 102.

The exemplary methods and apparatuses discussed infra are applicable toany of a variety of wireless device-to-device communications systems,such as for example, a wireless device-to-device communication systembased on FlashLinQ, WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or Wi-Fi based on theIEEE 802.11 standard. To simplify the discussion, the exemplary methodsand apparatus may be discussed within the context of one or moresystems. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand thatthe exemplary methods and apparatuses are applicable more generally to avariety of other wireless device-to-device communication systems.

FIG. 2 is a diagram 200 illustrating IoE devices in wireless IoEnetworks. A wireless IoE network may be a network of physical objects orthings embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity toenable it to achieve greater value and service by exchanging data withthe manufacturer, operator and/or other connected devices. Each thing(i.e., an IoE device) may be uniquely identifiable through its embeddedcomputing system but is able to interoperate within the existingInternet infrastructure. A wireless IoE network may offer advancedconnectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyondmachine-to-machine communications (M2M) and covers a variety ofprotocols, domains, and applications. Things (i.e., IoE devices), in thewireless IoE network, can refer to a wide variety of devices such asheart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on farm animals,electric clams in coastal waters, automobiles with built-in sensors, orfield operation devices that assist fire-fighters in search and rescue.These devices collect useful data with the help of various existingtechnologies and then autonomously flow the data between other devices.Examples include smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that utilizeWiFi for remote monitoring. In certain configurations, a wireless IoEnetwork may employ a wireless ad hoc network structure. In certainconfigurations, a wireless IoE network may employ a wireless meshnetwork structure.

IoE devices 221-226 are in a wireless IoE network A 251. IoE devices225, 227-228 are in a wireless IoE network B 252. The IoE device 225 isin both the wireless IoE network A 251 and the wireless IoE network B252. Other IoE devices (not shown) may be in a wireless IoE network C253, a wireless IoE network D 254, a wireless IoE network E 255, awireless IoE network F 256. The wireless IoE network A 251 to thewireless IoE network F 256 may be in the transmission range of an eNB212 connected to a WWAN and a gateway 216 connected to a traditionalnetwork (e.g., WLAN).

A WWAN may provide timing synchronization information to the wirelessIoE networks A-F 251-256. For example, in certain configurations, theIoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoEnetwork F 256 each may establish a downlink with the eNB 212 and mayreceive synchronization signals, e.g., primary synchronization signals(PSS) and secondary synchronization signals (SSS), from the eNB 212.

In another configuration, the gateway 216 may establish a downlink withthe eNB 212 and may receive synchronization signals, e.g., PSS and SSS,from the eNB 212. Then, based on the synchronization signals, thegateway 216 may broadcast synchronization information to the IoE devicesof the wireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256, forexample, through beacons. The gateway 216 provides coverage to all ofthe IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoEnetwork F 256. Thus, the IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251to the wireless IoE network F 256 can use the synchronization signals todetermine synchronization information.

Therefore, the IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 to thewireless IoE network F 256 may receive the synchronization signalsdirectly or indirectly from a WWAN and may determine a common timereference relying on the synchronization signals. Based on the commontime reference, the IoE devices can determine the superframe structureand/or the frame structure described infra. As such, the IoE devices donot need to send additional synchronization signals among themselves inorder to establish the common superframe structure and/or the framestructure described infra.

FIG. 3(A) is a diagram 300 illustrating resource allocation amongwireless IoE networks. An N^(th) superframe and an (N+1)^(th) superframeare on a channel A 312. The N^(th) superframe has frames 321, 322, 323,324. The (N+1)^(th) superframe has the same number of frames as theN^(th) superframe and starts with a frame 325. A J^(th) superframe and a(J+1)^(th) superframe are on a channel B 314. The J^(th) superframe hasframes 331, 332. The (J+1)^(th) superframe has the same number of framesas the J^(th) superframe and starts with a frame 333.

The IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoEnetwork F 256 may require a low data transmission rate. Accordingly,each of the IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 to thewireless IoE network F 256 may be configured to partition the availablespectrum into multiple narrow-band frequency-division multiplexing (FDM)channels. Each channel may be shared in time by multiple wireless IoEnetworks through a superframe structure. FIG. 3 illustrates, as anexample, that the channel A 312 is shared by 4 wireless IoE networksutilizing a superframe structure. In this example, the N^(th) superframehas 4 frames: the frames 321, 322, 323, 324, which are allocated to thewireless IoE networks A-D 251, 252, 253, 254, respectively. Othersuperframes on the channel A 312 also have 4 frames similarly allocatedto the wireless IoE networks A-D 251, 252, 253, 254.

Further, IoE devices in each wireless IoE network may decide theboundaries of the superframes based on the positions of the periodicframes allocated to that wireless IoE network. For example, the IoEdevices in a wireless IoE network may decide that each superframe startsat a frame allocated to that wireless IoE network. Particularly, the IoEdevices in the wireless IoE network B 252 may decide that the (N′)^(th)superframe starts at the frame 322, which is allocated to the wirelessIoE network B 252, and include the frames 322, 323, 324, 325. In otherwords, the boundaries of the superframes may be shifted by IoE devicesof different wireless IoE networks. Nonetheless, the length of thesuperframes may be fixed and determined by the periodicity of the framesallocated to a wireless IoE network. In the example illustrated in FIG.3, each superframe on the channel A 312 has 4 frames.

Similarly, the channel B 314 is shared by 3 wireless IoE networksutilizing a superframe structure. In this example, the J^(th) superframeon the channel B 314 has 2 frames: the frames 331, 332. The frame 331 isallocated to the wireless IoE network E 255 and the wireless IoE networkF 256. That is, the wireless IoE network E 255 and the wireless IoEnetwork F 256 share the frame 331 of the J^(th) superframe on thechannel B 314. In general, a single frame may be shared across multiplewireless IoE networks, depending on expected loading. The frame 332 isallocated to the wireless IoE network B 252. Other superframes on thechannel B 314 also have 2 frames similarly allocated to the wireless IoEnetworks E/F 255/256 and the wireless IoE network 252. Further, thelength of the N^(th) superframe is larger than that of the J^(th)superframe.

As described supra, the superframe structure supports allocating framesto wireless IoE networks with certain periodicity. For example, thewireless IoE network A 251 is allocated the first frame of the N^(th)superframe on the channel A 312. That is, the wireless IoE network A 251is allocated every fourth frame on the channel A 312. The periodicity ofallocation may be determined based on the traffic requirement of the IoEdevices in the wireless IoE network A 251. Similarly, the wireless IoEnetwork B 252 is allocated the second frame of the N^(th) superframe (orthe first frame of (N′)^(th) superframe) on the channel A 312.

Different FDM channels may have different superframe structures, interms of different frame lengths and different periodicity. For example,the superframes on the channel B 314 have a larger frame length and asmaller cycle than the superframes on the channel A 312. Further, asingle wireless IoE network can be allocated frames on multiple channelsto support different types of traffic. For example, the wireless IoEnetwork B 252 is allocated the frame 322 of the N^(th) superframe on thechannel A 312 and the frame 332 of the J^(th) superframe on the channelB 314.

Further, from the perspective of the IoE devices of a particularwireless IoE network, the IoE devices can derive a common framestructure based on the superframe structure that the particular wirelessIoE network utilizes. The IoE devices may consider the length of thesuperframe as a superframe period, of which the frame allocated to theparticular wireless IoE network defines an active period, while theframes not allocated to the particular wireless IoE network define aninactive period.

FIG. 3(B) illustrates a frame structure 350 from the perspective of theIoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251. The period of the frame321 is an active period N in the N^(th) superframe period; the period ofthe frame 322, the frame 323, and the frame 324 is an inactive period ofthe N^(th) superframe period. The period of the frame 325 is an activeperiod N+1 in the (N+1)^(th) superframe period.

The common network frame structure thus derived can then be utilized toindependently schedule transmissions and sleep cycles for IoE devices inthe particular wireless IoE network to meet latency requirements ofdifferent types of traffic. As such, the IoE devices may be inpower-saving mode during most of the time when the IoE devices are notdirectly required to transmit or receive signals.

FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 illustrating frames of a wireless IoE network.)Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates N^(th) to (N+D+1)^(t h) frames ofN^(th) to (N+D+1)^(th) superframe periods are on the channel A 312. TheIoE devices in a particular wireless IoE network are configured todetermine frames in a superframe (or an active period in a superframeperiod) allocated to that particular wireless IoE network. As describedsupra referring to FIG. 0b , the IoE devices in the wireless IoE networkA 251 are allocated periodic frames on the channel A 312. Specifically,the IoE devices in the wireless IoE network A 251 may determine, fromtheir perspective and based on the synchronization signals from the eNB212, the N^(th) frame in the N^(th) superframe period, the (N+1)^(th)frame in the (N+1)^(th) superframe period, etc.

In certain configurations, a superframe period may be short in order tomaintain synchronization as well as to support lower-latency traffic inthe wireless IoE network A 251. However, in many applications of IoEdevices, an IoE device needs to be active for a short duration over muchlarger time scale. For example, the IoE device may need to be awake fora few superframe periods every a few minutes, hours, days, . . . andsleeps in the rest of the time to conserve power. Further, in order foran IoE device to transmit signals successfully to a receiving IoEdevice, the receiving IoE device needs to be awake during thetransmission time.

In certain configurations, selected frames may be utilized as discoveryframes by the IoE devices to broadcast scheduling data such as awakeperiods and sleep period as well as other information such as routinginformation and association information. These discovery frames may beperiodic. FIG. 4 shows that in this example with respect to the wirelessIoE network A 251 the discovery frames has a periodicity of D, where Dis chosen to tradeoff discovery latency versus power. The IoE devices inthe wireless IoE network A 251 may determine, based on thesynchronization signals from the eNB 212, a start point of the framestransmitted on the channel A 312. Further, with the knowledge of theperiodicity (i.e., D) of the discovery frames, the IoE devices maydetermine that the N^(th) frame is a discovery frame and that the(N+D)^(th) frame is a discovery frame.

In certain configurations, the IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A251 may be configured to stay awake during each of the discovery frames.A particular IoE device may transmit its awake period schedule, networkinformation, and association information to other IoE devices, e.g.,through broadcasting, during each of the discovery frames. The awakeperiod schedule indicates when the IoE device is awake and when the nodeis sleeping. The network information may include the network identifier(ID) (e.g., MAC address) of, routing information of, a network topologyobserved by, and trees and routes participated by the IoE device. Theassociation information may include information that can be used byanother IoE device to request association with the particular IoEdevice. When two IoE devices are associated with each other, they may beregistered with each other, store each other's awake period schedule andnetwork information, and function as each other's next hop node.

As such, a source IoE device looking to associate with a target IoEdevice can learn the awake period schedule and routing information ofthe target IoE device in the discovery frames. The source IoE device canthen request association with the target IoE device and can configurethe awake period of the source IoE device in accordance with the awakeperiod of the target IoE device. Therefore, the source IoE device canstay awake to transmit data to and receive data from the target IoEdevice, and sleep during the rest of the time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram 500 illustrating communication scheduling among IoEdevices of a wireless IoE network. In this example, the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 is a multi-hop wireless IoE network including the IoEdevices 221-226. Further, a route X 512 includes the IoE device 221, theIoE device 222, the IoE device 223, and the IoE device 224. A route Y514 that include the IoE device 226, the IoE device 222, and the IoEdevice 225. An IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 221) in the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 may be configured to be awake (e.g., operate in a normaloperation mode) according to an awake schedule, which specifies one ormore awake periods, and to sleep (e.g., operate in a power-saving mode)during the rest of the time. The time period between two consecutiveawake periods, during which the IoE device operates in a power-savingmode, may be referred to as a sleep period. Typically, the awake periodof the IoE device is shorter than the sleep period. For example, theawake period may be less than 10%, 1%, 0.1%, or 0.01% of the sleepperiod.

If routes between source-destination pairs are not chosen carefully,different IoE devices on a route may be awake at different times,leading to large end-to-end latency. For example, suppose that each IoEdevice of the wireless IoE network A 251 has an awake period of Lseconds and a sleep period of S seconds, where L<<S. Then on a routeover H hops, where different IoE devices on the route have uncoordinatedawake periods, the end-to-end delay can be as high as Θ(H·S). Θ is anasymptotic notation. f(n)=Θ(g(n)) means that there are positiveconstants c₁, c₂, and k, such that 0≦c₁g(n)≦f(n)≦c₂g(n) for all n≧k. Thevalues of c₁, c₂, and k must be fixed for the function f and must notdepend on n.

The techniques described infra may be used by the IoE devices 221-226 ina distributed manner to reduce the end-to-end delay. Each of the IoEdevices 221-226 may be configured to determine its awake period scheduleby itself based on information received from its next hop nodes. Thatis, the awake period schedule of each IoE device is not controlled orset by a central network management entity. Each of the IoE devices221-226 may be configured to dynamically adjust its awake periodschedule in order to coordinate with the awake period schedules of itsnext hop nodes based on operating and network conditions.

In certain configurations, the end-to-end delay may be reduced to aboutΘ(H·L). For example, a source IoE device associating with a next hopnode and making the source IoE device available to other IoE devicesdesiring to transmit data to the next hop node may configure the awakeperiods of the source IoE device in accordance with the awake periods ofthe next hop node.

FIG. 6 is a diagram 600 illustrating distributed and coordinatedscheduling among IoE devices of a wireless IoE network. Particularly,FIG. 6 illustrates that the IoE device 221, the IoE device 222, and theIoE device 223 of the wireless IoE network A 251 are allocated frames(including N^(th) to (N+D)^(th) frames) on the channel A 312. The N^(th)frame and the (N+D)^(th) frame are discovery frames. The

IoE device 221 may be awake according to an awake schedule. In thisexample, the IoE device 221 is scheduled to be awake in every the otherframes. Particularly, the IoE device 221 has the awake period 641 in the(N+K)^(th) frame and the awake period 643 in the (N+K+2)^(th) frame. TheIoE device 221 broadcasts its device information 612—which includes itsawake period schedule, network information, and associationinformation—in the discovery frames (e.g., the N^(th) frame and the(N+D)^(th) frame).

The IoE device 222 may want to be associated with the IoE device 221.The IoE device 222 is awake during the discovery frames and may listento the device information 612 broadcasted by the IoE device 221 in theN^(th) frame (i.e., a discovery frame). Upon acquiring the deviceinformation 612, the IoE device 222 may send an association request 622to the IoE device 221 in the N^(th) frame, and the IoE device 221 maysend an association response 624 in return. When the IoE device 221accepts the association request 622 from the IoE device 222, the IoEdevice 222 may subsequently configure its awake periods according to theawake periods of the IoE device 221 to avoid high latency. The IoEdevice 222 may configure its awake periods to complete transmission orrelay of data to the IoE device 221 before the awake periods of the IoEdevice 221 expires. Particularly, using the (N+K)^(th) frame as anexample, the IoE device 222 learns that the IoE device 222 has an awakeperiod 641 in the (N+K)^(th) frame. Accordingly, the IoE device 222configures its awake period 651 to end a period T₂ prior to the end ofthe awake period 641. The period T₂ is the expected time for IoE device222 to transmit or relay a configured amount of data to the IoE device221. The configured amount of data may be the maximum amount of datathat the IoE device 222 is configured to transmit to the IoE device 221.In certain configurations, the configured amount of data may be apacket. The tail edge of the awake period 651 is at least the period T₂before the tail edge of the awake period 641. This way, when the IoEdevice 222 receives data to be transmitted to the IoE device 221 in theawake period 651 of the IoE device 222, the IoE device 222 can completethe transmission of the data to the IoE device 221 in the awake period651, because the awake period 651 is coordinated with the awake period641 of the IoE device 221 such that the data can be completely receivedby the IoE device 221 in the awake period 641.

The IoE device 222 similarly configures its awake periods in otherframes in which the IoE device 221 has awake periods. For example, theIoE device 222 similarly configures the awake period 653 based on theawake period 643 in the (N+K+2)^(th) frame. Further, during the N^(th)frame after the IoE device 222 has determined its awake periods based onthe awake periods of the IoE device 221, the IoE device 222 maybroadcast its device information 614—which may include its awake periodschedule configured as such, its network information, and itsassociation information—in discovery frames (e.g., the N^(th) frame andthe (N+D)^(th) frame).

Further, the IoE device 222 may configure its awake period (e.g., theawake period 651) to start prior to, and within a period T₂ from, thestart of the awake period (e.g., the awake period 641) of the IoE device221. In other words, the front edge of the awake period 651 is within aperiod T₂ from the front edge of the awake period 641. This techniquefacilitates the transmission of data from the IoE device 222 to arriveat the IoE device 221 within the awake periods of the IoE device 221.

The IoE device 223 may want to associate with the IoE device 222. Usinga process similar to the process described supra with respect the IoEdevice 222, the IoE device 223 listens to the device information 614 andthen accordingly exchanges an association request 626 and an associationresponse 628 with the IoE device 222 in the N^(th) frame. Uponassociating with the IoE device 222, the IoE device 223 configures itsawake period to end a period T₃ prior to the end of the awake period ofthe IoE device 222. The period T₃ is the expected time for IoE device223 to transmit a configured amount of data to the IoE device 222. Forexample, in the (N+K)^(th) frame, the IoE device 223 configures an awakeperiod 661 that ends the period T₃ prior to the end of the awake period651. Further, the IoE device 223 may configure its awake period (e.g.,the awake period 661) to start prior to, and within a period T₃ from,the start of the awake period (e.g., the awake period 651) of the IoEdevice 222. Subsequently, the IoE device 223 broadcasts its deviceinformation 614—which includes its awake period schedule configured andits association information—in discovery frames (e.g., the N^(th) frameand the (N+D)^(th) frame).

Referring back to FIG. 5, the techniques described supra may be utilizedto facilitate data transmission from the IoE device 223 to the IoEdevice 222, and then to the IoE device 221, which may be referred to asan uplink direction. The IoE device 223, the IoE device 222, and the IoEdevice 221 may broadcast their awake periods determined as describedsupra as uplink awake periods.

Similarly, the IoE device 221, the IoE device 222, and the IoE device223 may also utilize the techniques described supra to facilitate datatransmission from the IoE device 221 to the IoE device 222, and then tothe IoE device 223, which may be referred to as a downlink direction.The IoE device 221, the IoE device 222, and the IoE device 223 maysimilarly determine their downlink awake periods and broadcast theirdownlink awake periods.

The IoE device 225 may use similar techniques to associate with the IoEdevice 222 and to determine the awake periods of the IoE device 225based on the awake periods of the IoE device 222. The IoE device 224 mayuse similar techniques to associate with the IoE device 223 and todetermine the awake periods of the IoE device 224 based on the awakeperiods of the IoE device 223.

Further, a particular IoE device may be associated with multiple otherIoE devices. In this example, the IoE device 222 is associated with theIoE device 221, IoE device 223, IoE device 225, and IoE device 226.Accordingly, the particular IoE device may determine its awake periodsto suit the awake periods of all the associated IoE devices using thetechniques described supra. In certain configurations, the IoE device222 may aggregate the periodic awake periods determined in accordancewith each of the IoE device 221, IoE device 223, IoE device 225, and IoEdevice 226. In other words, the IoE device 222 may configure a longerperiodic awake period that includes the periodic awake periodsdetermined in consideration of each of the IoE device 221, IoE device223, IoE device 225, and IoE device 226.

In certain configurations, a particular IoE device may determine itsnext hop nodes for data transmission and then configure awake periods ofthe particular IoE device in accordance with the awake periods of thenext hop nodes using the techniques described supra, thus allowing theparticular IoE device to transmit to the next hop nodes in the awakeperiods of the next hop nodes. The IoE device may need to insert newawake periods when necessary. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the IoEdevice 222 may determine that the IoE device 221, the IoE device 223,the IoE device 225, and the IoE device 226 are neighboring nodes. Tomake such a determination, the IoE device 222 may listen to signalingmessages transmitted from neighboring nodes in the discovery frames. TheIoE device 222 may determine that its next hop nodes may be the IoEdevice 221, IoE device 223, IoE device 225, and IoE device 226. The IoEdevice 222 then listens to the awake period schedules of the IoE device221, IoE device 223, IoE device 225, and IoE device 226 broadcasted inthe discovery frames. Accordingly, the IoE device 222 may configure itsawake periods based on the awake period schedules of the next hop nodesusing the techniques described supra.

In certain configurations, the IoE devices in the wireless IoE network A251 may implement multiple routes connecting various source anddestination IoE devices. For example, the wireless IoE network A 251 mayinclude the route X 512 that includes the IoE device 221, the IoE device222, and the IoE device 223 as well as the route Y 514 that includes theIoE device 226, the IoE device 222, and the IoE device 225. The IoEdevices on each route can determine their respective awake periods usingthe techniques described supra. An IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 222)on multiple routes can wake-up for each of the routes. The wake periodscan be suitably aggregated to minimize the total wake time of the IoEdevice. The IoE device 224 may desire to transmit data on the route X512 and/or the route Y 514 to a target destination node. The IoE device224 may determine that the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 225 areneighboring nodes of the IoE device 224, and may select one of the IoEdevice 223 and the IoE device 225 as the next hop node of the IoE device224. The IoE device 224 further may obtain the device informationincluding the awake period schedule, the network information, and/or theassociation information of the selected next hop node in the discoveryframes. The IoE device 224 may further adjust its awake periods based onthe awake periods of the selected next hop node and request associationwith the selected next hop node. For example, in order to associate withthe route X 512, the IoE device 224 may select the IoE device 223 andthe next hop node.

Further, in certain configurations, in addition to determining awakeperiods based on the awake periods of the next hop nodes, a particularIoE device may communicate directly with another interested IoE devicein the discovery frames, in which each of the IoE devices in thewireless IoE network A 251 may be configured to stay awake. Further, atleast one of the particular IoE device and the interested IoE device mayagree to stay awake for additional periods so as to reduce latency ofongoing communication.

FIG. 7 is a diagram 700 illustrating tree structures in a wireless IoEnetwork. In this example, the IoE devices in the wireless IoE network C253 may form multiple trees including a tree 720 and a tree 730. Thetree 720 and the tree 730 are connected to a network 710. The tree 720includes, among other IoE devices, an IoE device 721, an IoE device 725,an IoE device 727, and an IoE device 729. The tree 730 includes, amongother IoE devices, an IoE device 731, the IoE device 725, an IoE device737, and an IoE device 739. The IoE device 725 is on both trees. An IoEdevice 741 is adjacent to the tree 720 and the tree 730.

The tree 720 has a root node, which is the IoE device 721. The tree 730has a root node, which is the IoE device 731. The root nodes of thesetrees are chosen among popular destinations, e.g., gateways. In thisexample, the IoE device 721 and the IoE device 731 are gatewaysconnected to the network 710. Further, less power-constrained nodes canbe on multiple trees. For example, the IoE device 725 is on both thetree 720 and the tree 730.

In certain configurations, the IoE devices on a tree may be configuredto have the same awake periods, i.e., the awake periods of the tree.That is, each IoE device of a tree may be configured to stay awake andsleep at the same time periods. For a node that is on multiple trees,the node is configured to stay awake in the awake periods of each tree.As such, each IoE device stays awake during each of its trees awakeperiods, facilitating low latency for each of the paths passing throughthe IoE device.

Further, the IoE device 741 may wish to choose a tree from multipletrees in order to transmit data to the network 710. That is, the IoEdevice 741 may desire to select an IoE device on the tree 720 or thetree 730 as a next hop node of the IoE device 741. The IoE device 741may choose a tree based on the awake periods of the trees. For example,the IoE device 741 may choose a tree whose awake periods are the closestto the ideal data transmission time in order to reduce latency. In thisexample, the IoE device 741 may need to periodically transmit data tothe network 710. Thus, the IoE device 741 may choose one of the tree 720and the tree 730 whose awake periods are closest to the periodic datatransmission of the IoE device 741. That is, the IoE device 741 selectsa tree such that the data can be transmitted with less delay to thenetwork 710. The IoE device 741 may determine that the IoE device 727and the IoE device 737 are neighboring nodes of the IoE device 741, andmay select one of the IoE device 727 and the IoE device 737 as the nexthop node of the IoE device 741 in accordance with the selected tree. TheIoE device 741 further may obtain the device information including theawake period schedule, the network information, and/or the associationinformation of the selected next hop node in the discovery frames. Forexample, in order to associate with the tree 720, the IoE device 741 mayselect the IoE device 727 and the next hop node. The IoE device 741 mayfurther adjust its awake periods based on the awake periods of theselected next hop node and request association with the selected nexthop node. These techniques allow better utilization of the channelcapacity as different trees can be active at different times.

FIG. 8 is a diagram 800 illustrating resource allocation in a wirelessIoE network. In certain configurations, an (N+1)^(th) superframe periodhas an active period 810, i.e., an (N+1)^(th) frame, and an inactiveperiod 890. The (N+1)^(th) frame has a signaling block 812 and a datablock 816. The signaling block 812 has prioritized element periods 820,contention element periods 830, and optionally at least one associationelement period 860. The data block 816 has prioritized slots 840,contention slots 850, and optionally an association slot 864 (AS). Aprioritized element period 822 (PE) corresponds to a prioritized slot842 (PS), and a contention element period 832 (CE) corresponds to acontention slot 852 (CS).

As described supra, some of the IoE devices 221-226 in the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 may be configured to stay awake in the active period 810(i.e., the (N+1)^(th) frame) of the (N+1)^(th) superframe period. Theactive period 810 has the signaling block 812 and the data block 816. Incertain configurations, the signaling block 812 has one or more elementperiods. The data block 816 has one or more data slots. The one or moreelement periods correspond to the one or more data slots. As describedinfra, each element period may be utilized by the IoE devices in thewireless IoE network A 251 to reserve a respective corresponding dataslot. In certain configurations, the IoE devices in the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 that desire to transmit signals in the data block 816 mayobtain a data slot use a priority based mechanism and/or a contentionbased mechanism. The element periods may contain the prioritized elementperiods 820, and the data slots may contain the prioritized slots 840.The prioritized element periods 820 and the prioritized slots 840 areutilized by the priority based mechanism. Further, the element periodsmay contain the contention element periods 830, and the data slots maycontain the contention slots 850. The contention element periods 830 andthe contention slots 850 are utilized by the contention based mechanism.

Each of the IoE devices may be configured to determine the structure ofan active period in a superframe period. For example, an IoE device maybe configured with knowledge of the length of the signaling block 812and the length of the data block 816. An IoE device may also beconfigured with knowledge of the number of the element periods in thesignaling block 812 and the length of the each element period. An IoEdevice may also be configured with knowledge of the number of the dataslots in the data block 816 and the length of each data slot. The

IoE device can assign an index number to each element period and eachdata slot. The corresponding element period and data slot may beassigned the same index number. As such, each of the IoE devices 221-226can, for example, use the synchronization signals from the eNB 212 todetermine a time reference and subsequently determine each pair ofcorresponding element period and data slot based on the knowledgeregarding the element periods and data slots aforementioned.

In this example, the data block 816 may contain M₀ data slots thatinclude M₁ prioritized slots (P-Slots) and M₂ contention slots(C-Slots). Accordingly, the signaling block 812 contains M₀ elementperiods that include M₁ prioritized element periods (P-Elements) and M₂contention element periods (C-Elements). That is, each element period ofthe M₁ prioritized element periods corresponds to a respective data slotof the M₁ prioritized slots. Each element period of the M₂ contentionelement periods corresponds to a respective data slot of the M₂contention slots. The M₁ prioritized slots and the M₂ contention slotsmay be arranged in any suitable order, as long as the IoE devices areconfigured to determine the arrangement of the data slots. Similarly,the M₁ prioritized element periods and the M₂ contention element periodsmay be arranged in any suitable order, as long as the IoE devices areconfigured to determine the arrangement of the element periods and thecorresponding data slot of each element period.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the M₁ prioritized slots areallocated at the beginning portion of the data block 816 (i.e., theprioritized slots 840), and the M₂ contention slots are allocated in theportion following the prioritized slots (i.e., the contention slots850). Similarly, the M₁ prioritized element periods are allocated at thebeginning portion of the signaling block 812 (i.e., the prioritizedelement periods 820), and the M₂ contention element periods areallocated in the portion following the prioritized element periods(i.e., the contention element periods 830). Particularly, theprioritized element period 822 corresponds to the prioritized slot 842,and the contention element period 832 corresponds to contention slot852. For example, based on the type, category, or content of a packet(data) to be transmitted, an IoE device can determine whether the packetis priority based traffic. In one scenario, the IoE device may want totransmit a packet that includes an alert message. The IoE device maydetermine that such a packet is priority based traffic.

Accordingly, the IoE device may use the prioritized element periods andprioritized slots. In another scenario, the node may want to transmit apacket that includes a routine status report. The IoE device maydetermine that such a packet is not priority based traffic, but iscontention based traffic. Accordingly, the IoE device may use thecontention element periods and contention slots.

More particularly, as an example, the IoE device 221 may communicatereservation messages (e.g., RTS/CTS) with the IoE device 222 in theprioritized element period 822 of a frame to reserve the prioritizedslot 842 of the frame to transmit a first packet of priority basedtraffic. When the IoE device 222 receives an RTS transmitted from theIoE device 221 in the prioritized element period 822, the IoE device 222can determine that the prioritized element period 822 is a prioritizedelement period and corresponds to the prioritized slot 842. The IoEdevice 222 may transmit a CTS to the IoE device 221 in response in theprioritized element period 822. Through the exchange of RTS/CTS, the IoEdevice 221 and the IoE device 222 communicated and confirmed that theIoE device 221 may transmit one or more packets (data) to the IoE device222 in the prioritized slot 842. The IoE device 221 remains awake in theprioritized slot 842 to transmit the one or more packets to the IoEdevice 222. The IoE device 222 remains awake in the prioritized slot 842to receive the one or more packets from the IoE device 222.

The IoE device 223 may communicate reservation messages (e.g., RTS/CTS)with the IoE device 224 in the contention element period 832 of theframe to reserve the contention slot 852 of the frame to transmit asecond packet of contention based traffic. When the IoE device 224receives an RTS transmitted from the IoE device 223 in the contentionelement period 832, the IoE device 224 can determine that the contentionelement period 832 is a contention element period and corresponds to thecontention slot 852. The IoE device 224 may transmit a CTS to the IoEdevice 223 in response in the contention element period 832. Through theexchange of RTS/CTS, the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 224communicated and confirmed that the IoE device 223 may transmit one ormore packets (data) to the IoE device 224 in the contention slot 852.The IoE device 223 remains awake in the contention slot 852 to transmitthe one or more packets to the IoE device 224. The IoE device 224remains awake in the contention slot 852 to receive the one or morepackets from the IoE device 224.

Subsequently, the IoE device 221 may transmit the first packet to theIoE device 222 in the prioritized slot 842 of the frame. When there isno other data transmission at the IoE device 221 and the IoE device 222,the IoE device 221 and the IoE device 222 can sleep during the dataslots of the data block 816 other than the prioritized slot 842. The IoEdevice 223 may transmit the second packet to the IoE device 224 in thecontention slot 852 of the frame. When there is no other datatransmission at the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 224, the IoEdevice 223 and the IoE device 224 can sleep during the data slots of thedata block 816 other than the contention slot 852.

The (N+1)^(th) frame may be configured to include more than onesignaling blocks and more than one data blocks. Each signaling block isallocated prior to a corresponding data block and is used to handlesignaling for reserving data slots of the corresponding data block. Forexample, the (N+1)^(th) frame may be configured to have a firstsignaling block at the beginning of the (N+1)^(th) frame followed by acorresponding first data block of the first signaling block as well as asecond signaling block at the middle of the (N+1)^(th) frame followed bya corresponding second data block of the second signaling block.

As described supra, the contention slots are used by a contention-basedmechanism that may be configured at each of the IoE devices of thewireless IoE network A 251. The contending IoE devices perform carriersense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), for example,through RTS-CTS handshake, exponential backoff, or FlashLinQ tones. Incertain configurations, all the signaling for contending for thecontention slots of the (N+1)^(th) frame are initiated in the signalingblock 812 (e.g., at the beginning of the (N+1) frame) in thecorresponding contention element periods 830. Accordingly, an IoE devicedesiring to communicate data in the contention slots 850 of the(N+1)^(th) frame can initially stay awake during the signaling block 812to contend for a contention slot in the corresponding element period ofthe contention slot. After the signaling block 812, the IoE device cango into a power-saving mode (i.e., sleep) until the time period of asuccessfully acquired contention slot. If the IoE device has notsuccessfully acquired any contention slot, the IoE device may sleepthrough the entire data block 816. As such, an IoE device may be able tosleep during most of the (N+1)^(th) frame (i.e., active period 810), andbe awake only during signaling block 812 and the contention slots duringwhich the IoE device is actually transmitting or receiving data.

Further, because the size (length) of a contention element period may befixed, when the contention among the IoE devices for a particularcontention slot is not resolved within the contention element periodcorresponding to that contention slot, the contention may be continuedin that contention slot itself. In this example, the IoE devices 221-226may contend for the contention slot 852 in the contention element period832. The IoE devices 221-226 may establish a contention window withinthe contention element period 832. If the length of the contentionwindow is greater than the contention element period 832, a portion ofthe contention window may be allocated in the contention element period832 and the rest portion of the contention window may be allocated inthe contention slot 852 (e.g., at the beginning of the contention slot852). The remaining of the contention slot 852 is used by a pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices that have successfully acquired thecontention slot 852 to communicate data.

In addition, to allow an IoE device to associate with another IoEdevice, one or more of the contention slots 850 can be designated forassociation and referred to as association element periods. That is, theIoE devices can use the association element periods to communicateassociation messages. In this example, the signaling block 812 containsthe association element period 860 that is the last element period inthe signaling block 812.

In certain configurations, a particular IoE device may want to associatewith a particular wireless IoE network (i.e., any capable connecteddevice in the wireless IoE network). For example, the IoE device 226,before joining the wireless IoE network A 251, may desire to associatewith the wireless IoE network A 251 by associating with any of the IoEdevices 221-225. The IoE device 226 can listen for messages transmittedby the IoE devices of the wireless IoE network A 251 (i.e., the IoEdevices 221-225) in the prioritized element periods 820 and thecontention element periods 830. The messages contain identityinformation, network information, and other information that can be usedby the IoE device 226 to send an association request. Upon obtaininginformation of a target IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 225), the IoEdevice 226 can send an association request to the target IoE device inone of the association element periods (e.g., the association elementperiod 860).

Further, a particular IoE device may want to associate with another IoEdevice. For example, the IoE device 222 may desire to associate with theIoE device 221. The IoE device 222 can listen for messages transmittedby the IoE device 221 in the prioritized element periods 820 and thecontention element periods 830 to determine whether the IoE device 221is awake in signaling block 812. The messages may also contain identityinformation, network information, and/or other information that can beused by the IoE device 222 to send an association request. Upondetecting the IoE device 221 in the signaling block 812 (and optionallyobtaining additional information of the IoE device 221), the IoE device222 can send an association request to the IoE device 221 in one of theassociation element periods (e.g., the association element period 860).

Further, in certain configurations, a particular IoE device (e.g., theIoE device 222) may utilize the association slot 864 in the data block816 to exchange association information with another IoE device (e.g.,the IoE device 221). For example, the association element period 860 maynot have sufficient resources for conducting certain type of associationinformation exchange (e.g., tone-based signaling in FlashLinQ). A dataslot may be configured to occupy a longer time period than an elementperiod and to provide more resources. Thus, the association slot 864 mayprovide sufficient resources for conducting association informationexchange such as tone-based signaling in FlashLinQ.

In addition, a particular IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 222) can waitfor the discovery frame (as described referring to FIG. 4 supra) duringwhich another IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 221) is expected to beawake, and request association with the another IoE device in thediscovery frame.

FIG. 9 is another diagram 900 illustrating resource allocation in awireless IoE network. An (N+1)^(th) frame 912 and an (N+2)^(th) frame914 may be utilized by some of the IoE devices in the wireless IoEnetwork A 251. The (N+1)^(th) frame 912 and the (N+2)^(th) frame 914each include the prioritized element period 822 and the correspondingprioritized slot 842 described supra referring to FIG. 8. A prioritizedelement period may have multiple resource periods. In certainconfigurations, the prioritized element period 822 has a privilegedresource period 930, class resource periods 932 (including a class 1resource period 932-1, a class 2 resource period 932-2, . . . , a classL resource period 932-L), and a priority contention resource period 934.

As stated, the prioritized element period 822 corresponds to theprioritized slot 842 of the (N+1)^(th) frame 912, which is allocated tothe wireless IoE network A 251. The IoE devices of the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 may be configured into different priority classes. Eachclass of IoE devices is configured to use a corresponding resourceperiod to acquire the prioritized slot 842. For example, in onescenario, the IoE device 223 may want to send an alert message and,thus, may belong to the priority class 1. Accordingly, the IoE device223 may use the class 1 resource period 932-1 to acquire the prioritizedslot 842. In another scenario, the IoE device 223 may want to send ameasured temperature and, thus, may belong to the priority class 2.Accordingly, the IoE device 223 may use the class 2 resource period932-2 to acquire the prioritized slot 842. As described infra in moredetail, when the IoE device 223 did not acquire the same slot in theimmediate prior data frame (i.e., the data frame, which is not adiscovery frame, that is prior and consecutive to the current dataframe), the IoE device 223 does not have a privilege over theprioritized slot 842 of the (N+1)^(th) frame 912 and may not use theprivileged resource period 930.

In this example, in the (N+1)^(th) frame 912, the IoE device 223determines that it did not acquire the prioritized slot 842 in animmediate prior data frame (e.g., the Nth frame when the N^(th) frame isnot a discovery frame or the (N−1)^(th) frame when the Nth frame is adiscovery frame) and, accordingly, detects whether any reservationmessages are communicated by other IoE devices in the resource periodsthat are prior to the class 2 resource period 932-2 (i.e., theprivileged resource period 930 and the class 1 resource period 932-1).

When the IoE device 223 detects reservation messages in the privilegedresource period 930 and class 1 resource period 932-1, the IoE device223 can determine that another IoE device having a privilege or apriority higher than the IoE device 223 desires to use the prioritizedslot 842. Accordingly, the IoE device 223 will not communicatereservation messages in the class 2 resource period 932-2 and will notcommunicate data in the prioritized slot 842.

When the IoE device 223 detects no reservation messages in theprivileged resource period 930 and the class 1 resource period 932-1,the IoE device 223 can determine that no IoE devices having a privilegeor a priority higher than the IoE device 223 desire to use theprioritized slot 842. Accordingly, the IoE device 223 may communicatereservation messages with a desired IoE device (e.g., the IoE device224) in the class 2 resource period 932-2 to acquire the prioritizedslot 842. For example, the reservation messages may be RTS/CTS messagesor FlashLinQ tones. When there is no conflicts with other IoE devices ofthe same class within the class 2 resource period 932-2 (e.g., the otherIoE devices may also transmit reservation messages in the class 2resource period 932-2) and, optionally, the IoE device 223 receives aconfirmation from the IoE device 224, the IoE device 223 may determinethat it has successfully acquired the prioritized slot 842 andsubsequently communicate data with the IoE device 224 in the prioritizedslot 842. Particularly, the IoE device 223 may send an RTS message tothe IoE device 224, and the IoE device 224, in response, may transmit aCTS message to the IoE device 223. That is, the IoE device 223 may sendan RTS to the IoE device 224 in the class 2 resource period 932-2. TheIoE device 223 may receive a CTS from the IoE device 224 in the class 2resource period 932-2. Subsequently, the IoE device 223 may transmitdata to the IoE device 224 in the prioritized slot 842.

In certain configurations, when a particular IoE device transmitted datain a selected prioritized slot in a particular frame, the particular IoEdevice have privilege to the same prioritized slot in the next frame. Inother words, the particular IoE device is given the first priority andopportunity to acquire the same prioritized slot in the next frame.Specifically, the IoE device having a privilege to the selectedprioritized slot may send reservation messages in the privilegedresource period of the element period designated to the selectedprioritized slot. In this example, the IoE device 223 may desire tocontinue transmitting data in a data frame (i.e., the (N+2)^(th) frame914) that is consecutive and subsequent to the data frame (i.e., the(N+1)^(th) frame 912) in which the IoE device 223 transmitted data. Thatis, because the IoE device 223 acquired the prioritized slot 842 of the(N+1)^(th) frame 912, the IoE device 223 has a privilege to theprioritized slot 842 of the (N+2)^(th) frame 914. The IoE device 223 maycommunicate reservation messages with the IoE device 224 in theprivileged resource period 930 to acquire the prioritized slot 842.

The privileged resource period 930 is prior to all the other resourceperiods in the prioritized element period 822. Therefore, the other IoEdevices in the wireless IoE network A 251 will detect the reservationmessages transmitted from the IoE device 223 prior to attempting to sendany reservation messages. Upon detecting the reservation messages fromthe IoE device 223, the other IoE devices may determine that theprioritized slot 842 is acquired by the IoE device 223 and, accordingly,will not transmit any reservation messages in the prioritized elementperiod 822 and will not transmit data in the prioritized slot 842. TheIoE device 223 may send an RTS to the IoE device 224 in the privilegedresource period 930. The IoE device 223 may receive a CTS from the IoEdevice 224 in the privileged resource period 930. Subsequently, the IoEdevice 223 may transmit data to the IoE device 224 in the prioritizedslot 842.

In certain configurations, an IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 225) thatdoes not have any priority based traffic may detect whether anyreservation messages are transmitted in the privileged resource period930 and the class resource periods 932. When the IoE device detects noreservation messages in the privileged resource period 930 and the classresource periods 932, the IoE device can determine that no IoE deviceshaving priority based traffic desire to use the prioritized slot 842.Accordingly, the IoE device may communicate reservation messages with adesired IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 226) in the priority contentionresource period 934 to acquire the prioritized slot 842. For example,the reservation messages may be RTS/CTS messages or FlashLinQ tones. TheIoE device 225 may send an RTS to the IoE device 226 in the prioritycontention resource period 934. The IoE device 225 may receive a CTSfrom the IoE device 226 in the priority contention resource period 934.Subsequently, the IoE device 225 may transmit data of non-priority basedtraffic (i.e., contention based traffic) to the IoE device 226 in theprioritized slot 842.

The technique described supra allocates resources on a share medium andprovides a distributed mechanism for a pair of transmitting-receivingIoE devices to achieve prioritization and reservation of a prioritizedslot in a periodic way for a duration. This technique allows aparticular IoE device to reserve and continue accessing a prioritizedslot for a certain periodic duration. In one aspect, the technique canbe advantageously utilized by some IoE devices transmitting certainspecific types of traffic expected in IoE networks, such as periodic andlower-latency bursty traffic.

Further, the technique may use a frame structure other than the framestructure having a signaling block and a data block described supra. Thetechnique may use any frame structure that designates an element periodto a prioritized slot. The element period has a privileged resourceperiod that may be used by a particular pair of transmitting-receivingIoE devices that has priority to that prioritized slot and that accessedthe prioritized slot in the previous frame. The element period has apriority class resource period that may be used by a pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices in the corresponding priority class.The element period may also have a priority contention resource period.The use of the privileged resource period allows the particular pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices to continue reserving and accessingthe same prioritized slots of each frame in a sequence of frames for aduration. In certain configurations, a wireless IoE network may impose amaximum limit on the duration that may be reserved by a single pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices. Discontinuation of privileged accessto the prioritized slot in a subsequent frame is indicated by notsending reservation messages in the privileged resource period of theelement period in the subsequent frame. This implicit indication, ratherthan an explicit signaling, may improve power efficiency (i.e., acrucial metric) of the IoE devices in the wireless IoE network.

When the previous privileged pair has released a particular prioritizedslot, a new pair of transmitting-receiving IoE devices looking to getprioritized access to the particular prioritized slot, may detect thelack of activity during the privileged resource period in the elementperiod designated to the particular prioritized slot. Accordingly, thenew pair may get prioritized access to the particular prioritized slotby sending reservation messages or the handshake signaling in thepriority class resource period. If two or more new pairs attempt toaccess at the same time (i.e., sending reservation messages in thepriority class resource period), a contention resolution procedure, suchas one based on the exponential backoff procedure, can be followed inthe priority contention resource period. Furthermore, if there is noactivity in either the privileged resource period or the priority classresource period, the prioritized slot can be made to fallback as acontention slot. Subsequently, a pair of transmitting-receiving IoEdevices that is not in the priority classes of the prioritized slot canattempt to acquire the slot in the priority contention resource period.

The technique described supra can be used to facilitate periodic trafficbetween a pair of transmitting-receiving IoE devices. If the period oftransmission is short (e.g., a few—such as 1, 3, or 5—frames between twoadjacent transmissions), then the pair of transmitting-receiving IoEdevices can reserve the same prioritized slot in each frame for theduration of the entire periodic transmission. In other words, the pairof transmitting-receiving IoE devices reserves the prioritized slot ofthe frames in between periodic transmissions but may not transmit anydata in those reserved prioritized slots. On the other hand, if theperiod of transmission is long (e.g., a substantial number of—such as100, 300, or 500—frames between two adjacent transmissions), the pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices can contend a few (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or5) frames in advance of each periodic transmission to acquire theprioritized slot in a prior data frame and then use the privilege toreserve the prioritized slot in each subsequent frames until the nextperiodic transmission is complete. Such mechanisms utilizing thetechniques described supra may improve power-efficiency.

The technique described supra can be used to facilitate bursty trafficas well. A pair of transmitting-receiving IoE devices having burstytraffic can initially using reservation messages to content for aprioritized slot and then use the privilege to reserve a prioritizedslot in each subsequent data frames for the duration of the burst. Theremay be some delay in the initial acquisition of the prioritized slot dueto resolving priority. For example, multiple prioritized pairs oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices may attempt to access the sameprioritized slot. This may not be crucial in an IoE network, as usuallylatency requirements in such networks are not expected to be strict.Alternatively, a pair of transmitting-receiving IoE devices can attemptto acquire multiple prioritized slots in the initial frame throughcontention in multiple prioritized element periods. The pair oftransmitting-receiving IoE devices can use any of the successfullyacquired prioritized slots in the initial frame to initiate thetransmission of the bursty traffic in order to reduce such latency.Subsequently, the pair of transmitting-receiving IoE devices can use theprivilege to reserve the selected prioritized slot in each subsequentdata frames for the duration of the burst.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart 1000 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a first node (e.g., the IoE devices of thewireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256, theapparatus 1302/1302′). In certain configurations, at operation 1009, thefirst node receives the synchronization information from a network. Forexample, referring to FIG. 2, the IoE devices of the wireless IoEnetwork A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256 receive synchronizationsignals from the eNB 212. At operation 1013, the first node determines adata frame based on synchronization information. For example, referringto FIG. 4, the IoE devices in the wireless IoE network A 251 maydetermine, based on the synchronization signals from the eNB 212, astart point of the frames transmitted on the channel A 312. Further,with the knowledge of the periodicity (i.e., D) of the discovery frames,the IoE devices may determine that the N^(th) frame is a discovery frameand that the (N+D)^(th) frame is a discovery frame.

The data frame has a signaling block and a plurality of data slots. Thesignaling block is prior to the plurality of data slots. In certainconfigurations, the signaling block includes a plurality of elementperiods each corresponding to one slot of the plurality of data slots.In certain configurations, the plurality of data slots includes M₁prioritized slots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ each being aninteger. The M₁ prioritized slots are allocated for priority basedtraffic. The M₂ contention slots are allocated for contention basedtraffic. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the data block 816 maycontain M_(o) data slots that include M₁ prioritized slots (P-Slots) andM₂ contention slots (C-Slots). Accordingly, the signaling block 812contains M₀ element periods that include M₁ prioritized element periods(P-Elements) and M₂ contention element periods (C-Elements). That is,each element period of the M₁ prioritized element periods corresponds toa respective data slot of the M₁ prioritized slots. Each element periodof the M₂ contention element periods corresponds to a respective dataslot of the M₂ contention slots.

At operation 1016, the first node communicates with a second node in thesignaling block to reserve a first data slot of the plurality of dataslots during which to transmit or to receive a first packet. In certainconfigurations, the communication with the second node is performed inan element period corresponding to the first data slot. At operation1019, the first node transmits the first packet to second node orreceiving the first packet from the second node during the first dataslot. In certain configurations, at operation 1023 the first nodedetermines at least one second data slot of the plurality of data slotsduring which the first node does not transmit or receive a packet. Atoperation 1026, the first node sleeps during the at least one seconddata slot. At operation 1029, the first node remains awake forcommunication during the signaling block.

For example, referring to FIG. 8, the IoE device 221 may communicatereservation messages (e.g., RTS/CTS) with the IoE device 222 in theprioritized element period 822 of a frame to reserve the prioritizedslot 842 of the frame to transmit a first packet of priority basedtraffic. When the IoE device 222 receives an RTS transmitted from theIoE device 221 in the prioritized element period 822, the IoE device 222can determine that the prioritized element period 822 is a prioritizedelement period and corresponds to the prioritized slot 842. The IoEdevice 222 may transmit a CTS to the IoE device 221 in response in theprioritized element period 822. Through the exchange of RTS/CTS, the IoEdevice 221 and the IoE device 222 communicated and confirmed that theIoE device 221 may transmit one or more packets (data) to the IoE device222 in the prioritized slot 842. The IoE device 221 remains awake in theprioritized slot 842 to transmit the one or more packets to the IoEdevice 222. The IoE device 222 remains awake in the prioritized slot 842to receive the one or more packets from the IoE device 222. The IoEdevice 223 may communicate reservation messages (e.g., RTS/CTS) with theIoE device 224 in the contention element period 832 of the frame toreserve the contention slot 852 of the frame to transmit a second packetof contention based traffic. When the IoE device 224 receives an RTStransmitted from the IoE device 223 in the contention element period832, the IoE device 224 can determine that the contention element period832 is a contention element period and corresponds to the contentionslot 852. The IoE device 224 may transmit a CTS to the IoE device 223 inresponse in the contention element period 832. Through the exchange ofRTS/CTS, the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 224 communicated andconfirmed that the IoE device 223 may transmit one or more packets(data) to the IoE device 224 in the contention slot 852. The IoE device223 remains awake in the contention slot 852 to transmit the one or morepackets to the IoE device 224. The IoE device 224 remains awake in thecontention slot 852 to receive the one or more packets from the IoEdevice 224. Subsequently, the IoE device 221 may transmit the firstpacket to the IoE device 222 in the prioritized slot 842 of the frame.When there is no other data transmission at the IoE device 221 and theIoE device 222, the IoE device 221 and the IoE device 222 can sleepduring the data slots of the data block 816 other than the prioritizedslot 842. The IoE device 223 may transmit the second packet to the IoEdevice 224 in the contention slot 852 of the frame. When there is noother data transmission at the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 224,the IoE device 223 and the IoE device 224 can sleep during the dataslots of the data block 816 other than the contention slot 852.

In certain configurations, the first node, at operation 1033, receives asignaling message in the signaling block. At operation 1036, the firstnode determines that the signaling message is sent from a third node. Atoperation 1039, the first node determines to associate with the thirdnode. At operation 1043, the first node obtains network information ofthe third node from the signaling message. At operation 1046, the firstnode sends, based on the network information of the third node, anassociation message to the third node in the signaling block. Theassociation message requests associating with the third node. Forexample, referring to FIG. 8, the IoE device 226, before joining thewireless IoE network A 251, may desire to associate with the wirelessIoE network A 251 by associating with any of the IoE devices 221-225.The IoE device 226 can listen for messages transmitted by the IoEdevices of the wireless IoE network A 251 (i.e., the IoE devices221-225) in the prioritized element periods 820 and the contentionelement periods 830. The messages contain identity information, networkinformation, and other information that can be used by the IoE device226 to send an association request. Upon obtaining information of atarget IoE device (e.g., the IoE device 225), the IoE device 226 cansend an association request to the target IoE device in one of theassociation element periods (e.g., the association element period 860).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart 1100 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a first node (e.g., the IoE devices of thewireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256, theapparatus 1302/1302′). In certain configurations, within operation 1016,the first node, at operation 1113, determines that the first packet iscontention based traffic. At operation 1116, the first node selects afirst element period from element periods of the plurality of elementperiods that are corresponding to the M₂ contention slots. Thecommunication with the second node is performed during the first elementperiod. At operation 1119, the first node sends a request message to thesecond node. At operation 1123, the first node receives a responsemessage from the second node. In certain configurations, thecommunication with the second node in operation 1016 is performed duringa first element period of the plurality of element periods. Withinoperation 1016, the first node, at operation 1133, receives a requestmessage from the second node. At operation 1136, the first nodedetermines that the first element period is from element periodscorresponding to the M₂ contention slots. At operation 1139, the firstnode sends a response message to the second node. Further, in certainconfigurations, subsequent to operation 1123 or operation 1139, atoperation 1143, the first node determines that the first element periodcorresponds to the first data slot. The first data slot is one of the M₂contention slots. At operation 1146, the first node remains awake forcommunication during the first data slot. The first packet istransmitted to the second node during the first data slot. The examplesdescribed supra with respect to FIG. 10 apply here equally.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart 1200 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a first node (e.g., the IoE devices of thewireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256, theapparatus 1302/1302′). In certain configurations, within operation 1016,the first node, at operation 1213, determines that the first packet ispriority based traffic. At operation 1216, the first node selects afirst element period from element periods of the plurality of elementperiods that are corresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots. Thecommunication with the second node is performed during the first elementperiod. At operation 1219, the first node sends a request message to thesecond node. At operation 1223, the first node receives a responsemessage from the second node. In certain configurations, thecommunication with the second node in operation 1016 is performed duringa first element period of the plurality of element periods. Withinoperation 1016, the first node, at operation 1233, receives a requestmessage from the second node, at operation 1236, the first nodedetermines that the first element period is from element periodscorresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots. At operation 1239, the firstnode sends a response message to the second node. Further, in certainconfigurations, subsequent to operation 1223 or operation 1239, atoperation 1243, the first node determines that the first element periodcorresponds to the first data slot. The first data slot is one of the M₁prioritized slots. At operation 1246, the first node remains awake forcommunication during the first data slot. The first packet istransmitted to the second node during the first data slot. The examplesdescribed supra with respect to FIG. 10 apply here equally.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual data flow diagram 1300 illustrating the dataflow between different modules/means/components in an exemplaryapparatus 1302. The apparatus may be a first node. The apparatusincludes a reception module 1304, an application module 1306, a resourcemanagement module 1308, and a transmission module 1310. The apparatus1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured to receive firstsignaling messages and first data from a second node 1350. The receptionmodule 1304 may be configured to send the first signaling messages tothe resource management module 1308 and send the first data to theapplication module 1306 for processing. Subsequently, the resourcemanagement module 1308 may be configured to send second signalingmessages to the transmission module 1310. The application module 1306may be configured to send second data to the transmission module 1310.The transmission module 1310 may be configured to send the secondsignaling messages and the second data to the second node 1350.

More specifically, the resource management module 1308 may be configuredto determine a data frame based on synchronization information. The dataframe has a signaling block and a plurality of data slots. The signalingblock is prior to the plurality of data slots. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to communicate with a second node 1350 inthe signaling block to reserve a first data slot of the plurality ofdata slots during which to transmit or to receive a first packet. Theapplication module 1306 and/or the transmission module 1310 may beconfigured to transmit the first packet to second node 1350 or receivethe first packet from the second node 1350 during the first data slot.

The resource management module 1308 may be configured to determine atleast one second data slot of the plurality of data slots during whichthe first node does not transmit or receive a packet. The receptionmodule 1304 and/or the transmission module 1310 may be configured tosleep during the at least one second data slot. The reception module1304 and/or the transmission module 1310 may be configured to remainawake for communication during the signaling block. The signaling blockmay include a plurality of element periods each corresponding to oneslot of the plurality of data slots. The communication with the secondnode 1350 may be performed in an element period corresponding to thefirst data slot. The plurality of data slots may include M₁ prioritizedslots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ each being an integer. The M₁prioritized slots may be allocated for priority based traffic. The M₂contention slots are allocated for contention based traffic.

The resource management module 1308 may be configured to determine thatthe first packet is contention based traffic. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to select a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₂ contention slots. The resource management module1308 may be configured to perform the communication with the second node1350 during the first element period. To perform the communication withthe second node 1350, the resource management module 1308 may beconfigured to send a request message to the second node 1350. Theresource management module 1308 may be configured to receive a responsemessage from the second node 1350. The resource management module 1308may be configured to determine that the first element period correspondsto the first data slot. The first data slot may be one of the M₂contention slots. The reception module 1304 and/or the transmissionmodule 1310 may be configured to remain awake for communication duringthe first data slot. The first packet is transmitted to the second node1350 during the first data slot.

The resource management module 1308 may be configured to perform thecommunication with the second node 1350 during a first element period ofthe plurality of element periods. To perform the communication with thesecond node 1350, the resource management module 1308 may be configuredto receive a request message from the second node 1350. The resourcemanagement module 1308 may be configured to determine that the firstelement period is from element periods corresponding to the M₂contention slots. The resource management module 1308 may be configuredto send a response message to the second node 1350. The resourcemanagement module 1308 may be configured to determine that the firstelement period corresponds to the first data slot. The first data slotmay be one of the M₂ contention slots. The reception module 1304 and/orthe transmission module 1310 may be configured to remaining awake forcommunication during the first data slot. The first packet is receivedfrom the second node 1350 during the first data slot.

The resource management module 1308 may be configured to determine thatthe first packet is priority based traffic. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to select a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to perform the communication with thesecond node 1350 during the first element period. To perform thecommunication with the second node 1350, the resource management module1308 may be configured to send a request message to the second node1350. The resource management module 1308 may be configured to receive aresponse message from the second node 1350. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to determine that the first element periodcorresponds to the first data slot. The first data slot is one of the M₁prioritized slots. The reception module 1304 and/or the transmissionmodule 1310 may be configured to remain awake for communication duringthe first data slot. The first packet is transmitted to the second node1350 during the first data slot.

The resource management module 1308 may be configured to perform thecommunication with the second node 1350 during a first element period ofthe plurality of element periods. To perform the communication with thesecond node 1350, the resource management module 1308 may be configuredto receive a request message from the second node 1350. The resourcemanagement module 1308 may be configured to determine that the firstelement period is from element periods corresponding to the M₁prioritized slots. The resource management module 1308 may be configuredto send a response message to the second node 1350. The resourcemanagement module 1308 may be configured to determine that the firstelement period corresponds to the first data slot. The first data slotis one of the M₁ prioritized slots. The reception module 1304 and/or thetransmission module 1310 may be configured to remain awake forcommunication during the first data slot. The first packet may bereceived from the second node 1350 during the first data slot.

The reception module 1304 may be configured to receive thesynchronization information from a network. The reception module 1304may be configured to receive a signaling message in the signaling block.The resource management module 1308 may be configured to determine thatthe signaling message is sent from a third node. The resource managementmodule 1308 may be configured to determine to associate with the thirdnode. The resource management module 1308 may be configured to obtainnetwork information of the third node from the signaling message. Theresource management module 1308 may be configured to send, based on thenetwork information of the third node, an association message to thethird node in the signaling block. The association message requestsassociating with the third node.

FIG. 14 is a diagram 1400 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 1302′ employing a processing system1414. The processing system 1414 may be implemented with a busarchitecture, represented generally by the bus 1424. The bus 1424 mayinclude any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on thespecific application of the processing system 1414 and the overalldesign constraints. The bus 1424 links together various circuitsincluding one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented bythe processor 1404, the modules 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, and thecomputer-readable medium/memory 1406. The bus 1424 may also link variousother circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators,and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, andtherefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system 1414 may be coupled to a transceiver 1410. Thetransceiver 1410 is coupled to one or more antennas 1420. Thetransceiver 1410 provides a means for communicating with various otherapparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1410 receives asignal from the one or more antennas 1420, extracts information from thereceived signal, and provides the extracted information to theprocessing system 1414, specifically the reception module 1304. Inaddition, the transceiver 1410 receives information from the processingsystem 1414, specifically the transmission module 1310, and based on thereceived information, generates a signal to be applied to the one ormore antennas 1420. The processing system 1414 includes a processor 1404coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory 1406. The processor 1404 isresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory 1406. The software, whenexecuted by the processor 1404, causes the processing system 1414 toperform the various functions described supra for any particularapparatus. The computer-readable medium/memory 1406 may also be used forstoring data that is manipulated by the processor 1404 when executingsoftware. The processing system further includes at least one of themodules 1304, 1306, 1308, and 1310. The modules may be software modulesrunning in the processor 1404, resident/stored in the computer readablemedium/memory 1406, one or more hardware modules coupled to theprocessor 1404, or some combination thereof.

The processing system 1414 may be a component of the IoE devices of thewireless IoE network A 251 to the wireless IoE network F 256. In oneconfiguration, the apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communicationincludes means for performing operations illustrated in FIGS. 10-12.Specifically, the apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communicationincludes means for determining a data frame based on synchronizationinformation. The data frame has a signaling block and a plurality ofdata slots. The signaling block is prior to the plurality of data slots.The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication includes means forcommunicating with a second node in the signaling block to reserve afirst data slot of the plurality of data slots during which to transmitor to receive a first packet. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wirelesscommunication includes means for transmitting the first packet to secondnode or receiving the first packet from the second node during the firstdata slot.

The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining at least one second data slot of theplurality of data slots during which the first node does not transmit orreceive a packet. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communicationmay be configured to include means for sleeping during the at least onesecond data slot. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communicationmay be configured to include means for remaining awake for communicationduring the signaling block.

The signaling block may include a plurality of element periods eachcorresponding to one slot of the plurality of data slots. Thecommunication with the second node is performed in an element periodcorresponding to the first data slot. The plurality of data slotsincludes M₁ prioritized slots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ eachbeing an integer. The M₁ prioritized slots are allocated for prioritybased traffic. The M₂ contention slots are allocated for contentionbased traffic.

The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining that the first packet is contention basedtraffic. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for selecting a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₂ contention slots. The means for communicatingwith the second node may be configured to perform the communication withthe second node during the first element period. To perform thecommunication with the second node, the means for communicating with thesecond node may be configured to send a request message to the secondnode and to receive a response message from the second node. Theapparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining that the first element period correspondsto the first data slot. The first data slot is one of the M₂ contentionslots. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for remaining awake for communication duringthe first data slot. The first packet is transmitted to the second nodeduring the first data slot.

The means for communicating with the second node may be configured toperform the communication with the second node during a first elementperiod of the plurality of element periods. To perform the communicationwith the second node, the means for communicating with the second nodemay be configured to receive a request message from the second node, todetermine that the first element period is from element periodscorresponding to the M₂ contention slots, and to send a response messageto the second node. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communicationmay be configured to include means for determining that the firstelement period corresponds to the first data slot. The first data slotis one of the M₂ contention slots. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wirelesscommunication may be configured to include means for remaining awake forcommunication during the first data slot. The first packet is receivedfrom the second node during the first data slot.

The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining that the first packet is priority basedtraffic. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for selecting a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots. The means for communicatingwith the second node may be configured to perform the communication withthe second node during the first element period. To perform thecommunication with the second node, the means for communicating with thesecond node may be configured to send a request message to the secondnode and to receive a response message from the second node. Theapparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining that the first element period correspondsto the first data slot. The first data slot is one of the M₁ prioritizedslots. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for remaining awake for communication duringthe first data slot. The first packet is transmitted to the second nodeduring the first data slot.

The means for communicating with the second node may be configured toperform the communication with the second node during a first elementperiod of the plurality of element periods. To perform the communicationwith the second node, the means for communicating with the second nodemay be configured to receive a request message from the second node, todetermine that the first element period is from element periodscorresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots, and to send a responsemessage to the second node. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wirelesscommunication may be configured to include means for determining thatthe first element period corresponds to the first data slot. The firstdata slot is one of the M₁ prioritized slots. The apparatus 1302/1302′for wireless communication may be configured to include means forremaining awake for communication during the first data slot. The firstpacket is received from the second node during the first data slot.

The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for receiving a signaling message in the signaling block.The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured toinclude means for determining that the signaling message is sent from athird node. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for determining to associate with the thirdnode. The apparatus 1302/1302′ for wireless communication may beconfigured to include means for obtaining network information of thethird node from the signaling message. The apparatus 1302/1302′ forwireless communication may be configured to include means for sending,based on the network information of the third node, an associationmessage to the third node in the signaling block. The associationmessage requests associating with the third node. The apparatus1302/1302′ for wireless communication may be configured to include meansfor receiving the synchronization information from a network.

The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementionedmodules of the apparatus 1302 and/or the processing system 1414 of theapparatus 1302′ configured to perform the functions recited by theaforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in theprocesses/flow charts disclosed is an illustration of exemplaryapproaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that thespecific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes/flow charts maybe rearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” The word “exemplary” is used hereinto mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspectdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as“at least one of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B,C, or any combination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/orC, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C.Specifically, combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “atleast one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” maybe A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C,where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members ofA, B, or C. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are knownor later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is tobe construed as a means plus function unless the element is expresslyrecited using the phrase “means for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of wireless communication at a firstnode, comprising: determining a data frame based on synchronizationinformation, wherein the data frame has a signaling block and aplurality of data slots, wherein the signaling block is prior to theplurality of data slots; communicating with a second node in thesignaling block to reserve a first data slot of the plurality of dataslots during which to transmit or to receive a first packet; andtransmitting the first packet to the second node or receiving the firstpacket from the second node during the first data slot.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining at least one second data slotof the plurality of data slots during which the first node does nottransmit or receive a packet; sleeping during the at least one seconddata slot; and remaining awake for communication during the signalingblock.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling block includes aplurality of element periods each corresponding to one slot of theplurality of data slots; and wherein the communicating with the secondnode is performed in an element period corresponding to the first dataslot.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of data slotsincludes M₁ prioritized slots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ eachbeing an integer, wherein the M₁ prioritized slots are allocated forpriority based traffic, and wherein the M₂ contention slots areallocated for contention based traffic.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising: determining that the first packet is contentionbased traffic; and selecting a first element period from element periodsof the plurality of element periods that are corresponding to the M₂contention slots, wherein the communicating with the second node isperformed during the first element period and includes sending a requestmessage to the second node, and receiving a response message from thesecond node; determining that the first element period corresponds tothe first data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₂contention slots; and remaining awake for communication during the firstdata slot, wherein the first packet is transmitted to the second nodeduring the first data slot.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein thecommunicating with the second node is performed during a first elementperiod of the plurality of element periods and includes receiving arequest message from the second node, determining that the first elementperiod is from element periods corresponding to the M₂ contention slots,and sending a response message to the second node; the method furthercomprising: determining that the first element period corresponds to thefirst data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₂ contentionslots; and remaining awake for communication during the first data slot,wherein the first packet is received from the second node during thefirst data slot.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:determining that the first packet is priority based traffic; andselecting a first element period from element periods of the pluralityof element periods that are corresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots,wherein the communicating with the second node is performed during thefirst element period and includes sending a request message to thesecond node, and receiving a response message from the second node;determining that the first element period corresponds to the first dataslot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₁ prioritized slots;and remaining awake for communication during the first data slot,wherein the first packet is transmitted to the second node during thefirst data slot.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the communicatingwith the second node is performed during a first element period of theplurality of element periods and includes receiving a request messagefrom the second node, determining that the first element period is fromelement periods corresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots, and sending aresponse message to the second node; the method further comprising:determining that the first element period corresponds to the first dataslot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₁ prioritized slots;and remaining awake for communication during the first data slot,wherein the first packet is received from the second node during thefirst data slot.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receivinga signaling message in the signaling block; determining that thesignaling message is sent from a third node; determining to associatewith the third node; obtaining network information of the third nodefrom the signaling message; and sending, based on the networkinformation of the third node, an association message to the third nodein the signaling block, wherein the association message requestsassociating with the third node.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving the synchronization information from a network. 11.An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus being a firstnode, comprising: means for determining a data frame based onsynchronization information, wherein the data frame has a signalingblock and a plurality of data slots, wherein the signaling block isprior to the plurality of data slots; means for communicating with asecond node in the signaling block to reserve a first data slot of theplurality of data slots during which to transmit or to receive a firstpacket; and means for transmitting the first packet to the second nodeor receiving the first packet from the second node during the first dataslot.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: means fordetermining at least one second data slot of the plurality of data slotsduring which the first node does not transmit or receive a packet; meansfor sleeping during the at least one second data slot; and means forremaining awake for communication during the signaling block.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the signaling block includes a pluralityof element periods each corresponding to one slot of the plurality ofdata slots; and wherein the communicating with the second node isperformed in an element period corresponding to the first data slot. 14.The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of data slots includesM₁ prioritized slots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ each being aninteger, wherein the M₁ prioritized slots are allocated for prioritybased traffic, and wherein the M₂ contention slots are allocated forcontention based traffic.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, furthercomprising: means for determining that the first packet is contentionbased traffic; and means for selecting a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₂ contention slots, wherein the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to perform thecommunication with the second node during the first element period,wherein to perform the communication with the second node, the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to send a requestmessage to the second node, and receive a response message from thesecond node; means for determining that the first element periodcorresponds to the first data slot, wherein the first data slot is oneof the M₂ contention slots; and means for remaining awake forcommunication during the first data slot, wherein the first packet istransmitted to the second node during the first data slot.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for communicating with thesecond node is configured to perform the communication with the secondnode during a first element period of the plurality of element periods,wherein to perform the communication with the second node, the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to receive a requestmessage from the second node, determine that the first element period isfrom element periods corresponding to the M₂ contention slots, and senda response message to the second node; the apparatus further comprising:means for determining that the first element period corresponds to thefirst data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₂ contentionslots; and means for remaining awake for communication during the firstdata slot, wherein the first packet is received from the second nodeduring the first data slot.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, furthercomprising: means for determining that the first packet is prioritybased traffic; and means for selecting a first element period fromelement periods of the plurality of element periods that arecorresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots, wherein the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to perform thecommunication with the second node during the first element period,wherein to perform the communication with the second node, the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to send a requestmessage to the second node, and receive a response message from thesecond node; means for determining that the first element periodcorresponds to the first data slot, wherein the first data slot is oneof the M₁ prioritized slots; and means for remaining awake forcommunication during the first data slot, wherein the first packet istransmitted to the second node during the first data slot.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for communicating with thesecond node is configured to perform the communication with the secondnode during a first element period of the plurality of element periods,wherein to perform the communication with the second node, the means forcommunicating with the second node is configured to receive a requestmessage from the second node, determine that the first element period isfrom element periods corresponding to the M₁ prioritized slots, and senda response message to the second node; the apparatus further comprising:means for determining that the first element period corresponds to thefirst data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₁prioritized slots; and means for remaining awake for communicationduring the first data slot, wherein the first packet is received fromthe second node during the first data slot.
 19. The apparatus of claim11, further comprising: means for receiving a signaling message in thesignaling block; means for determining that the signaling message issent from a third node; means for determining to associate with thethird node; means for obtaining network information of the third nodefrom the signaling message; and means for sending, based on the networkinformation of the third node, an association message to the third nodein the signaling block, wherein the association message requestsassociating with the third node.
 20. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising means for receiving the synchronization information from anetwork.
 21. An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatusbeing a first node, comprising: a memory; and at least one processorcoupled to the memory and configured to: determine a data frame based onsynchronization information, wherein the data frame has a signalingblock and a plurality of data slots, wherein the signaling block isprior to the plurality of data slots; communicate with a second node inthe signaling block to reserve a first data slot of the plurality ofdata slots during which to transmit or to receive a first packet; andtransmit the first packet to the second node or receiving the firstpacket from the second node during the first data slot.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: determine at least one second data slot of the pluralityof data slots during which the first node does not transmit or receive apacket; sleep during the at least one second data slot; and remain awakefor communication during the signaling block.
 23. The apparatus of claim21, wherein the signaling block includes a plurality of element periodseach corresponding to one slot of the plurality of data slots; andwherein the communicating with the second node is performed in anelement period corresponding to the first data slot.
 24. The apparatusof claim 23, wherein the plurality of data slots includes M₁ prioritizedslots and M₂ contention slots, M₁ and M₂ each being an integer, whereinthe M₁ prioritized slots are allocated for priority based traffic, andwherein the M₂ contention slots are allocated for contention basedtraffic.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: determine that the first packet iscontention based traffic; and select a first element period from elementperiods of the plurality of element periods that are corresponding tothe M₂ contention slots, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to perform the communication with the second node during thefirst element period, wherein to perform the communication with thesecond node, the at least one processor is further configured to send arequest message to the second node, and receive a response message fromthe second node; determine that the first element period corresponds tothe first data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₂contention slots; and remain awake for communication during the firstdata slot, wherein the first packet is transmitted to the second nodeduring the first data slot.
 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theat least one processor is further configured to perform thecommunication with the second node during a first element period of theplurality of element periods, wherein to perform the communication withthe second node, the at least one processor is further configured toreceive a request message from the second node, determine that the firstelement period is from element periods corresponding to the M₂contention slots, and send a response message to the second node;wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determinethat the first element period corresponds to the first data slot,wherein the first data slot is one of the M₂ contention slots; andremain awake for communication during the first data slot, wherein thefirst packet is received from the second node during the first dataslot.
 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processoris further configured to: determine that the first packet is prioritybased traffic; and select a first element period from element periods ofthe plurality of element periods that are corresponding to the M₁prioritized slots, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to perform the communication with the second node during thefirst element period, wherein to perform the communication with thesecond node, the at least one processor is further configured to send arequest message to the second node, and receive a response message fromthe second node; determine that the first element period corresponds tothe first data slot, wherein the first data slot is one of the M₁prioritized slots; and remain awake for communication during the firstdata slot, wherein the first packet is transmitted to the second nodeduring the first data slot.
 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein theat least one processor is further configured to perform thecommunication with the second node during a first element period of theplurality of element periods, wherein to perform the communication withthe second node, the at least one processor is further configured toreceive a request message from the second node, determine that the firstelement period is from element periods corresponding to the M_(I)prioritized slots, and send a response message to the second node;wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determinethat the first element period corresponds to the first data slot,wherein the first data slot is one of the M₁ prioritized slots; andremain awake for communication during the first data slot, wherein thefirst packet is received from the second node during the first dataslot.
 29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one processoris further configured to: receive the synchronization information from anetwork; receive a signaling message in the signaling block; determinethat the signaling message is sent from a third node; determine toassociate with the third node; obtain network information of the thirdnode from the signaling message; and send, based on the networkinformation of the third node, an association message to the third nodein the signaling block, wherein the association message requestsassociating with the third node.
 30. A computer-readable medium storingcomputer executable code for wireless communication, comprising codefor: determining a data frame based on synchronization information,wherein the data frame has a signaling block and a plurality of dataslots, wherein the signaling block is prior to the plurality of dataslots; communicating with a second node in the signaling block toreserve a first data slot of the plurality of data slots during which totransmit or to receive a first packet; and transmitting the first packetto the second node or receiving the first packet from the second nodeduring the first data slot.